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New Site Helps Plan the Mid-Movie Bathroom Break

By Jenna Wortham May 29, 2009 6:39 pmMay 29, 2009 6:39 pm

Last weekend, I was having dinner with a friend before a late night screening of “Terminator: Salvation.” My friend cautioned against my decision to down a couple pints before the two-hour film lest I run out during some killer machine action, but I waved off his concerns.

RunPee is an aptly titled Web site that tells you exactly when you should make a break for the bathroom during a movie. The site approximates how long you can be gone, in case you need to make a call or hit the candy counter. But the best part about RunPee is that the suggestions are sans major spoilers — they simply quickly outline which point in the storyline to escape. But if you’re aching to know what celluloid action you’re skipping with a trip to the loo or concession stand, you can choose to unscramble a block of text detailing what will happen while you’re gone.

Most RunPee listings have multiple suggestions for the best moment during the film to take your break. For example, “Drag Me to Hell,” Sam Raimi’s new horror flick, offers up two ideal moments to take your leave, in the event you would prefer to step out during a particularly scary sequence and one for moviegoers like myself who wouldn’t want to miss a single splatter of blood.

Of course, RunPee isn’t an exact science — some of the recommendations have a bit of a cheeky slant to them. For example, the recommendation for “Hannah Montana” simply reads “Go home right after the previews and pee for as long as you please in the comfort of your own home. You wont miss anything.” Others, such as the suggestion for Pixar’s animated feature “Up” encourages viewers not to miss a moment of the film.

The main drawback of RunPee is that it’s currently bound to a browser, but luckily, not for long: The Web site promises that mobile versions of the Web site, including an application for the iPhone, are on their way.

There is always going to be a trade-off. If it is a decent movie then you will miss SOMETHING if you decide to duck out. I think the idea is to keep you from missing something crucial to the PLOT. I am going to try the “times” when I take my kids to the new “Museum” movie!

@Miss May, Rock on! I’ve said exactly that many times. Some movies just don’t have got moments to RunPee, like StarTrek. However, I’ve read dozens of comments from people that they wish they had known about RunPee before they saw StarTrek because they ducked out when Kirk was on the ice planet. Then they came back and . . . I’m not going to spoil it for anyone who may not have seen the movie yet but you REALLY don’t want to miss what happens next. So I’ve added an Anti-PeeTime there to warn people to stay put. Plus I’m adding details like is there an extra scene after the credits.

Now I’m just waiting for the developer to finish the iPhone app. In addition to PeeTimes it will have some ultra cool features to help you throughout the movie without bothering your fellow movie goers.

Jenna, nicely written article here. You should do this for a living! :)

No disrespect to RunPeeCreator, but there is NEVER a good time/means to light up an iPhone or similar handheld device during a movie and I wish he wouldn’t encourage the trend. It’s an annoying distraction on a par with people talking in a theatre.

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